An 86-year-old French woman has been detained in the United States after relocating to reunite with her long-lost love, sparking concern over immigration enforcement practices.
Marie-Thérèse moved from Nantes to the US in 2025 after rekindling a romance that began in the 1960s. However, authorities later detained her at an immigration facility in Louisiana.
Her son raised concerns after officials arrested her in Anniston earlier this month. He described the arrest as harsh, claiming officers handcuffed her hands and feet despite her age.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that a French national matching her name entered the country in June 2025 and overstayed a 90-day visa. As a result, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took her into custody.
Her family, however, insists that she had already applied for a green card and was waiting for approval at the time of her arrest.
Marie-Thérèse’s journey to the US began with a decades-old love story. She first met her partner, Billy, in the 1960s when he served as an American soldier stationed at a NATO base in Saint-Nazaire. At the time, she worked as a secretary.
The couple lost contact after Billy returned to the US in 1966. Both later married and built separate lives in their respective countries. They reconnected in 2010 and maintained contact while still married to their spouses.
After both became widowed in 2022, their relationship rekindled. They eventually married, and Marie-Thérèse moved to Alabama to live with him.
Tragedy struck when Billy died suddenly in January, leaving her immigration status uncertain. Without her green card finalized, she faced legal challenges.
Following his death, tensions reportedly grew between Marie-Thérèse and Billy’s son over inheritance matters. Her son alleged that the situation escalated into intimidation and disputes over basic living conditions.
Marie-Thérèse sought legal assistance, but authorities detained her just one day before a scheduled court hearing.
While there is no confirmed link between the family dispute and her arrest, the timing has raised questions.
The French Foreign Ministry has stepped in and provided consular support. Officials have already visited her in detention.
Her son expressed deep concern for her health, noting that she suffers from heart and back problems. He urged authorities to release her and allow her return to France, warning that detention conditions could seriously affect her well-being.
He described the situation as surreal, saying it feels like a nightmare rather than reality.
The case comes amid stricter immigration enforcement policies introduced during Donald Trump’s second term. Authorities have expanded deportation efforts, placing increased pressure on undocumented immigrants across the country.
This case highlights growing concerns about how immigration laws affect vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly, who may face complex legal and personal circumstances.
